Heart of Illinois United Way Announces New President

President Jennifer L. Zammuto

Heart of Illinois United Way, the largest non-governmental funder of health and human care programs in central Illinois, is pleased to announce Jennifer L. Zammuto will be the organization’s new President. Zammuto will join United Way on August 1 and current President, Michael Stephan, will retire on August 31.

“On behalf of the Heart of Illinois United Way Board of Directors, we are looking forward to Jennifer Zammuto leading the organization into the future. As a true servant leader in our community, Jennifer has been actively involved with our United Way for many years and we know she is the right person for advancing education, financial stability and health in central Illinois,” Tim Neuhauser, Board Chair, said.

Jennifer Zammuto comes to the Heart of Illinois United Way with more than 24 years of experience in philanthropy, communications, strategic planning, consulting, team building and project management. She joins the United Way team after ten years at the Caterpillar Foundation where she implemented new approaches to philanthropy and advocacy while growing the Foundation’s thought leadership position through processes and procedures focused on supporting and mitigating risk. While at Caterpillar, Zammuto built a diverse, award-winning and high-performing team. Her efforts, both local and worldwide, encourage community-wide collaboration across nonprofit, public, government, and corporate sectors.

Prior to joining the Caterpillar Foundation, her years working at Converse Marketing and L.R. Nelson Corporation built her communications, international business, public relations, brand and marketing expertise. She has been actively involved with the Heart of Illinois United Way including serving as the Solution Council’s Vice Chair of the Children and Youth Allocation Committee as well as a member of the Board of Directors, Campaign Cabinet, and Heart of Illinois Homeless Continuum of Care Governing Board. Zammuto is currently on the board of LISC Peoria, has served on the board for the Center for Prevention of Abuse, and is a former member of Downtown Rotary.

She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in French-Business and Translation from Northern Illinois University in 1994 and has lived and worked abroad in addition to studying at the Université d’Avignon in France. Zammuto completed Bradley University’s EMBA program in 2011.

“The model the Heart of Illinois United Way uses to invest community dollars efficiently and effectively to impact lives in our region is remarkable. I am honored to be a small part of this team of employees, hundreds of volunteers, and partner agencies that make such a difference in the lives of those in our community,” Zammuto said.

The position of Heart of Illinois United Way President is to provide innovation, collaboration, leadership and vision achieved through the efforts of a diverse team of high-performing leaders, volunteers and staff. The search committee, led by Board Chair Elect Abby Clark, included twelve members of the Heart of Illinois United Way Board of Directors who began a comprehensive search process in March. Applications were received from many qualified candidates.

“Through a local and national search, our goal was to recruit the best possible leader to build upon the Heart of Illinois United Way’s long-standing history of positive community impact. The board members, who comprised the search committee, did extraordinary work in finding the next leader for our United Way. We look forward to the innovative and strategic approach Jennifer Zammuto will bring to the organization,” Clark said.

Since 2000, Michael Stephan has served as President of the Heart of Illinois United Way. During his time with the organization, Stephan has been responsible for leading multiple efforts focused on improving the quality of life in central Illinois. These efforts include implementation of an outcome-based funding process, expansion of the annual campaign from $5 million per year to over $11 million annually, and the establishment of initiatives and collaborations including the Heart of Illinois 2-1-1 Information and Referral Service, Success By 6, Supporting Student Success and the Heart of Illinois Homeless Continuum of Care.

“I know that our central Illinois community will benefit tremendously from Jennifer’s leadership. With the continued support from business, labor, and civic leaders, I am confident Jennifer will not only build on our past accomplishments, she will take our United Way to the next level of success,” Stephan said.

Heart of Illinois United Way brings together people from business, labor, government, health and human services to address our community’s needs. Money raised stays in our community funding programs in Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell and Woodford counties that help one in three people in central Illinois each year.

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The Heart of Illinois United Way brings together people from business, labor, government, health and human services to address community needs in Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell & Woodford Counties in Illinois.